The First Lap: Keeping the Carnival Alive

 First Lap Won’t Be Canada’s Last Lap - It All Happens This Sunday 

Reveller's Mas Costume Model on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Catwalk 

By Stephen Weir / photographs courtesy of Toronto Carnival. What’s in a name these days?  For followers of the carnival arts, the moniker First Lap: Keeping the Carnival Alive presented by Carib Beer speaks long and loudly of the reemergence of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival traditions and all of its moving parts.

(Macomere Fifi right)

Coming to a cell phone, tablet and computer near you will be a taped gathering of the Mas Bands. You will see the launch of new Mas Band costumes, the sweet sounds of Soca star David Rudder (i.e. King David), a performance by Dance Caribe and the best in Canadian style Pan Music.

 

The 2021 First Lap is a professionally shot feature length programme that will soon be aired in Toronto and the Caribbean. It happens this Sunday evening (April 11).  For 90 minutes the Toronto’s top carnival models will be showing for the first time this carnival season costumes from six Toronto Mas Camps.

(Tribal Carnival model right)

“ We have been working on the First Lap online show for the past two weeks,” explained Digital Imaging Technology manager Anthony Berot. 

Using a seasoned crew and broadcast quality cameras, the show was filmed over two days on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage (Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto), explained Berot.  

That was before the latest round of Covid restrictions were dropped. The broadcast crew made sure that all the guidelines were followed and that everyone stayed safe.

(Mas K Camp Model at right)

The First Lap: Keeping the Carnival Alive will air free on April 11^th on the Festival’s website (www.torontocarnival.ca) and on the Festival’s FaceBook, YouTube and Twitch accounts.  As well Trinidad’s Wack Radio (a popular Caribbean online Radio/Television station dedicated to promoting the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago) will be streaming the show on Sunday at 7pm.

All-star Pan Orchestra on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

The actual nuts and bolts of putting this show together was handled by three veterans producers of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade - Wendy Jones, Kwesi Thomas, and Adrian Charles.

David Rudder on stage left

The Toronto Carnival has already posted a 3-minute First Lap video tease on Facebook. Narrated by SKF the Champ, (DJ Sheldon K Francis); he introduces the models from Louis Saldenah’s Mas K Camp, Epic Carnival, Tribal Carnival, Venom Carnival,  Carnival Nationz and NBA great Jamaal Magloire and his Revellers.

Epic Model on Stage Wearing Carnival Mas Costume

 

Interspaced between the costume reveals, SKF introduces international Soca star David Rudder and his band. Performing as well are two top Calypsonian singers – Connecter (Joel Davis) and Macomere Fifi (Eulith Tara Banks) as well as a Pan all-star band drawing in musicians from the Ontario SteelPan Association 

(Carnival Nationz Mas Model left)

It is the First Lap programme -- the precursor to more carnival events online and live in 2021.  Mas Bandleader Louis Saldenah recently spoke to the media about carnival activities this summer.  He and his fellow leaders are hoping to do lots more this year but they are watching closely what the Province of Ontario is doing in terms of Covid restrictions on public events in 2021.

Calypso singer Connector performs on First Lap

“The festival is secondary to people’s health and controlling the coronavirus, he told the Toronto Star and other online news outlets. “Dead people can’t participate in a parade.”

“First Lap: Keeping the Carnival Alive Presented by Carib show is already to roll this Sunday,” said Anthony Berot. “There are many different platforms that will be airing the programme. If people miss the 7pm airing or want to see it again, check out the www.torontocarnival.ca website. We will have it up and running during the month of April.”

The Voice Coming to Toronto this Saturday to sing for Jamaal

photo from 2016 Reveller's Costume Launch by sweirsweir

JAMAAL’s REVELLERS KNOW THE RHYTHM TO MOVE YOU

The Toronto Revellers Masquerade Band, participants in the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade, will be launching their costumes on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Parkview Manor at 9:00pm, under this year’s theme: MUSIC: LET THE RHYTHM MOVE YOU.

Hosted by Toronto Revellers Band Leader and Raptors Assistant Coach, Jamaal Magloire and special guest emcee, Giselle D’Wassi One, the evening is expected to attract more than 400 guests for dancing, celebration to signal the start of registration for the 2017 festivities.

The Band Launch marks the beginning of the carnival season, and will feature an elaborate show, display of costumes, live performance by Aaron “Voice” St. Louis – Trinidad’s Soca Monarch’s back-to-back champion; live music by NYC’s hottest DJ Young Chow; and Revellers DJ’s DOC, D’Ultimate Sting, DJ Tony Styles, DJ Undavover, Eternal Vibes, and the world’s youngest DJ Dex.

WHAT: Jamaal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers – Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2017 Band Launch
DATE: Saturday, April 15th, 2017
TIME: Media Call 10:00 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.
WHERE: Parkview Manor – 55 Barber Greene Rd, Toronto
WHO: Jamaal Magloire - Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach and Toronto Revellers Band Leader
Aaron “Voice” St. Louis – Trinidad’s Soca Monarch’s Champion (2016, 2017)
Giselle D’Wassi One – Special Guest Emcee

Whether with the Toronto Revellers or with his new charitable organization, Jamaal Magloire Foundation, Magloire’s passion has always been about building the community. In a recent interview, FAN 590’s Paul Jones asked about the impact that the Toronto Revellers has with his Foundation. “It’s a way to fellowship the comradery,” Magloire responded. “The mature people are integrating with young people sharing ideas, sharing project management skills. It’s a way for good people to come together to help others.”

Tickets for the Toronto Revellers band launch event still available at www.ticketgateway.com. For more information and online costume registration, please visit www.TorontoRevellers.com.@torontocaribbeancarnival

Mas K Club Says Saturday Night (and early Sunday Morning) is Celebration Time in Toronto

Picture from last year's Mas K Club Launch - photo sweirsweir

HUGE COSTUME LAUNCH DROPS ON THE SIX!

Louis Saldenah got it right, this long weekend is CELEBRATION TIME in Toronto. His Mas K Club and its hundreds and hundreds of supporters are going to be spending Saturday night and Sunday morning dancing, eating and watching a costume launch fashion show (and don't worry there is a bar).
"We have captured the Band of the Year 17-times," said Louis Saldenah. "We have brought the most spectacular parade presentations that Toronto has ever seen! This summer we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Carnival in Toronto and the 150th Anniversary of Canada."

Mas K is the largest carnival band in the country, bringing over 4,000 costumed revellers onto the parade route for the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival. This Saturday they will be holding a giant launch party to show people what costumes are available to order for the parade. There will be a lot of choice - 15 sections will take turns on stage, showing the new looks for 2017.
The doors open at 9am Saturday. The party and Costume Launch stage show will run until the wee hours of Sunday. The evening is hosted by well-known DJ Eman with music provided by Dr. Jay, the Soca Prince.
CELEBRATION TIME takes place at the huge (1,400+ capacity) Chandni Grand Ballroom in Scarborough. 3895 McNicoll Avenue.
Admin: $20 in advance and more at the door. Saldenah@hotmail.com
www.saldenahcarnival.com